Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Sweet Briar College #1104 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $52,366, placing Sweet Briar College in the 12.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Sweet Briar College #933 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Sweet Briar College #1104 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 25.2 percentile for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private baccalaureate college in Sweet Briar, Virginia, Sweet Briar College enrolls roughly 443 undergraduates. Retention is 69.3% and the six-year graduation rate is 51.8%, reflecting the institution's focus on student completion and persistence. Sweet Briar College delivers solid long-term financial outcomes grounded in its strength in biological sciences and related fields. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $52,366, placing Sweet Briar College in the 12.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Sweet Briar College #933 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 37.0 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's program portfolio, anchored in Biological Sciences, positions graduates for careers in health sciences, research, and related professions where demand remains steady and earnings grow over time. Access and affordability round out the composite picture. Sweet Briar College sits in the 12.3 percentile for access and the 52.1 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The college enrolls 31.0% Pell-eligible students and 23.2% first-generation undergraduates, serving a meaningful share of students who depend on financial aid. Mobility outcomes sit in the 41.2 percentile, reflecting the institution's ability to move graduates into sustainable career pathways aligned with their educational preparation.
Sweet Briar College's published cost of attendance is $43,898, but financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $11,734; middle-income families pay about $15,247; higher-income families pay approximately $24,710. Azimuth ranks Sweet Briar College #683 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Sweet Briar College's aid structure is need-based, with aid packages assembled from federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional sources. Families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile to access need-based aid and merit scholarships where available. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $27,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $17,975; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $52,366, median federal debt of $27,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $305 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Sweet Briar College is a strong fit for students drawn to the biological sciences and related fields who want a private liberal arts college experience in VA. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $52,366, placing Sweet Briar College in the 12.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The aid structure is need-based. Sweet Briar College enrolls a significant share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 31.0% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 23.2% are first-generation — and delivers completion rates that support upward mobility. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 75.5% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors biological sciences and related fields. Students whose interests align with those areas and who can navigate the application process will find a strong academic foundation.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
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This is the Sweet Briar College hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Trine University-Regional/Non-Traditional Campuses Similar quality tier (#29472 ranked) | IN | 40% | $57,165 | #29472 | Compare |
Rocky Mountain College Similar quality tier (#29477 ranked) | MT | 70% | $49,036 | #29477 | Compare |
Westmont College Similar quality tier (#29480 ranked) | CA | 77% | $64,778 | #29480 | Compare |
Fisk University Similar quality tier in Southeast (#29470 ranked) | TN | 37% | $45,454 | #29470 | Compare |
Lagrange College Similar quality tier in Southeast (#29465 ranked) | GA | 62% | $51,745 | #29465 | Compare |
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Sweet Briar College's published cost of attendance is $43,898, but financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $11,734; middle-income families pay about $15,247; higher-income families pay approximately $24,710.
Azimuth ranks Sweet Briar College #683 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Sweet Briar College's aid structure is need-based, with aid packages assembled from federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional sources. Families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile to access need-based aid and merit scholarships where available.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $27,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $17,975; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $52,366, median federal debt of $27,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $305 under standard ten-year repayment.
For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Business/Commerce, General
7 graduates
Biology, General
16 graduates
Sweet Briar College's program mix is anchored in biological sciences, reflecting the institution's identity as a residential liberal arts college with particular strength in the life sciences. Biology, General is the largest program with 16 graduates, followed by Psychology, General with 8 graduates, Business/Commerce, General with 7 graduates, Engineering Science with 6 graduates, and American History (United States) with 6 graduates.
Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 48 students annually, the institution concentrates its academic portfolio in Business at 10%, Arts at 10%, and Social Sciences at 10%. The program-mix signature reflects Sweet Briar's positioning as a liberal arts institution with particular depth in the life sciences and related fields.
Psychology, General combines meaningful cohort scale with solid earnings outcomes, anchoring the institution's economic profile. The concentration in Biological Sciences aligns with the college's research infrastructure and faculty expertise in laboratory-intensive disciplines, where hands-on undergraduate research and field experience are central to the curriculum.
Several of these programs are grad-school-dependent pathways where four-year earnings undercount lifetime trajectory because a meaningful share of graduates continue to graduate or professional school—particularly in biology, chemistry, and related sciences where medical school and doctoral study are common next steps. For context on how these fields align with national labor-market demand and graduate-school pathways, see the [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/).
Graduates of Sweet Briar College earn median 4-year earnings of $52,366, placing Sweet Briar College in the 12.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Sweet Briar College #933 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
These outcomes reflect the institution's focus on fields with strong labor-market alignment and consistent career progression. The earnings pattern centers on Biological Sciences, which anchors the institution's degree output.
Biology, General is the largest program with 16 graduates, followed by Psychology, General with 8 graduates and Business/Commerce, General with 7 graduates. These programs combine meaningful enrollment scale with career outcomes that support the institution's overall return profile.
The concentration in Business — representing 10% of degrees — reflects Sweet Briar College's academic identity and contributes to the consistency of graduate earnings across the student body.
